The South Atlantic Fishery Management Council will hold a series of 7 public hearings from November 2 through November 16, 2009 regarding three amendments to the Council's Snapper Grouper Fishery Management Plan for the South Atlantic Region. With the exception of a hearing scheduled in Newport News, Virginia on November 16, 2009, all hearings will be held from 3:00 PM until 7:00 PM. The hearing scheduled for November 16th will begin at 6:00 PM.
Council staff will provide presentations on the various amendments and management alternatives currently under consideration and will be available to answer questions. Area Council members will be on hand to accept public comment any time during the public hearing hours.
The Council will accept written comments regarding the amendments from October 19, 2009 until 5:00 PM November 25, 2009. Instructions for submitting written comments, including email addresses, will be included in the Public Hearing Documents. Documents will be available on the Council's Web site at www.safmc.net by October 19, 2009 or by contacting the Council office at 843/571-4366 or Toll Free 866/SAFM-10.
Amendments:
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 17A
Red snapper are currently undergoing overfishing and are overfished. Amendment 17A establishes Annual Catch Limits (ACLs) and Accountability Measures (AMs) for red snapper, long term management measures to rebuild the red snapper stock, and a monitoring program for red snapper. Management options include closure of the red snapper fishery plus alternatives for area closures for all snapper grouper fishing to address bycatch of red snapper, a permitted fishing zone, and various red snapper monitoring program alternatives.
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 17B
Establishment of ACLs and AMs for 9 remaining species in the snapper-grouper complex currently listed as undergoing overfishing. Alternatives include a proposed deepwater closure, allocations for golden tilefish, aggregate ACLs for gag, black grouper and red grouper, and AMs to close fisheries once the ACL is met.
• Snapper Grouper Amendment 18
Additional measures are being considered for the snapper-grouper complex, including expansion of the management unit northward, limiting access for the golden tilefish fishery, measures for the black sea bass pot fishery, change in fishing year for golden tilefish, improvements in fisheries statistics, and designation of Essential Fish Habitat (EFH) as necessary.
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SAFMC Public Hearing Schedule
3:00 PM until 7:00 PM
*Meeting begins at 6:00 PM
Monday, November 2, 2009
Hilton Garden Inn Charleston Airport
5265 International Boulevard
North Charleston, South Carolina 29418
Phone: 843-308-9330
Tuesday, November 3, 2009
Hilton New Bern Riverfront
100 Middle Street
New Bern, North Carolina 28562
Phone: 252-638-3585
Thursday, November 5, 2009
Mighty Eighth Air Force Museum
175 Bourne Avenue
Pooler, Georgia 31322
Phone: 912-748-8888
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
Key Largo Grande
97000 Overseas Highway
Key Largo, Florida 33037
Phone: 305-852-5553
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Radisson Resort at the Port
8701 Astronaut Boulevard
Cape Canaveral, Florida 32920
Phone: 321-784-0000
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Crowne Plaza Jacksonville Riverfront
1201 Riverplace Boulevard
Jacksonville, Florida 32207
Phone: 904-396-8800
*November 16, 2009
Virginia Marine Resources Commission
2600 Washington Avenue, 3rd Floor
Newport News, VA 23607
Phone: 757/247-2200 |
